Ruslan and Ludmila [Palekh]

From 1937-1947 he studied at the Palekh Art School and was taught by prominent miniaturists, including Vakurov. After graduation, he was employed at the Palekh Art Workshops. His works include folklore, literature, and historical themes. He also produced large-scale works at the boarding school in Ivanovo and took part in the restoration of frescoes at The Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin as well as theater scenery. In particular, he was part of the staging for the ballet "The Land of Miracles" by I.I. Shvarts in the State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet in 1968. Other works include, to name just a few, "Kulikovo Field", "Mikula Selyaninovich", "Pugachiov", and "Ruslan and Ludmila". These, and many others, have been displayed at art exhibitions starting in 1974. His works can be found in museums all over Russia, among which are The State Russian Museum, Zagorsk State Historic and Art Museum-Park, The Central Museum of Armed Forces, State Museum of Palekh Art, and the State Museum of Ethnography of Peoples of Russia. The last two pictures show a box painted by the artist in 1960 (not for sale as we don't own it) and a postcard showing another of his works.

On this box, Ludmila is painted in the center of the box and surrounded by vignettes from the Tale of Ruslan and Ludmila. At the bottom focal point is Ruslan's meeting with the Giant Head. Ruslan is a heroic medieval warrior from Alexander Pushkin's epic poem. At the wedding feast of Ruslan and Ludmila, an evil dwarf magician by the name of Chernomor kidnaps her. Ludmila's father blames Ruslan for the disaster and proposes to give her hand in marriage to the first man who finds her. Thus, Ruslan's rivals, Farlaf, Ratmir and Rogdai, all set out in pursuit. Ruslan meets the giant Slumbering Head, who, it turns out, is the brother of Chernomor. Ruslan subdues and defeats him, and most importantly, finds the magical sword nearby which enables Ruslan to defeat Chernomor in the end. Egg tempera, lacquer, cream colored papier-mache box. 5⅜"x1⅝". 1 only.

Condition note: there is a small, hard to see ¼" chip at the 9 o'clock position at the very edge of the top of the box. See picture #3.